There's always a certain excitement that comes with bringing an uncounted heft of change to the bank. Unfortunately, that excitement is more often than not followed by a jag of disappointment once you find out that your bag of coins is hardly worth the magical number you had envisioned. This is where Selma Durand's work comes into play. Her design, whose name—"Piggy bank"—is just as minimal as its aesthetic, looks to helps spenders re-interpret the impact of their pocket change.

This isn't for those looking to fund a large trip or buy—think of it more as a reality check. Durand's design focuses on smaller purchases, like a baguette or a cup of coffee. The bank has a weight system—when it's empty, the inner brass container sits above the lip of the ceramic dish. As more money is added, the brass bowl dips lower and you'll know you've got the equivalent of a euro when it lines up with the ceramic edge. While the design is ideal for our European readers, with some quick weight conversions this money-saving method could be translated to American coinage—though it won't render quite as well, considering the weight of a euro is equivalent to three pennies.

Check out these videos to see the inner and outer workings of the bank:

And here's the weight mechanism at work:

Piggy Bank was a Master's project for Durand's time at ENSCI-Les Ateliers in Paris. You may have also seen her luggage "Weighing Handle" making the rounds recently. Her full portfolio of work is definitely worth a perusal—check it out on her website. What are your thoughts—is all of the fun in guessing the worth of your spare change or is this a welcomed reality check?

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Erika is the editorial assistant at Core77. When she isn't covering design, you can find her writing about music, food, and healthy living habits. But mostly music. She also has a strong affinity for hedgehogs, bowling, and bands with goofy names.

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